New recruit settles in at the Norwalk Fire Department

When he joined the Norwalk Fire Department two years ago, Firefighter George Baez was looking for a role in the community similar to his service in the United States Marine Corps.

Baez, 34, found a similar hard-work ethic in the department but, more importantly, his fellow firefighters exhibited the same sense of camaraderie he experienced as a Marine.

"You go to war with your brothers. You fight fires with your brothers," said Baez. "This is a job where you carry yourself with honor."

The fire department is looking for other team players and hard workers as they accept applications for the next five weeks. Fire officials are pushing for a more diverse array of applicants. The department is actively recruiting females and minorities with an emphasis on Norwalk residents.

Familiarity with the city's geography is a plus for any firefighter, according to Baez.

A Norwalker since 2003, Baez knows the layout of the city. He can direct drivers who are not entirely familiar the area by telling them landmarks near the call.

Baez provides the department with more than navigation skills, as his familiarity with many Norwalkers gives some solace to the victims of fires.

"When you step off the truck and the people you are coming to help know you, it puts them at ease," he said.

By far, the best attribute a new applicant can possess is an ability to fit seamlessly into the "family" of firefighters, Baez said. The "brotherhood," as Baez calls it, functions as a team.

"We cook together. We clean together," he said. "This is our second home."

Everyone in the department has a role and the outcome of emergency responses will be positive if firefighters properly execute their particular job, according to Baez. Anyone who strays from that mentality can endanger the lives of others, Baez said.

"This is a team environment," said Baez. "One person cannot put out a fire. You always need someone beside you that can see something that you don't like a ceiling that is about to fall."

Being a firefighter also requires a love for learning. Aside from attending the firefighting academy, firefighters learn something new everyday on the job, Baez said.

"You have to be enthusiastic about learning," he said. "Other guys around you see if you're living up to your potential and are willing to learn. When other guys see that, they know you're serious about being a firefighter."